Friday, 30 March 2012

Update on Supreme Court Proceedings

The Supreme Court of India Friday dismissed the plea of a NGO seeking clemency for Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is on death sentence and his execution is scheduled on March 31, 2012.

Rejecting the plea, a bench of two justices - Justices T.S. Thakur and Gyan Sudha Misra said it could not pass any direction, as Rajoana has not filed any petition before it. In this matter the apex court asked how, in a criminal matter, could a person other than the accused move the higher court seeking relief against the award of a sentence.

Ramakrishna had filled the petition under Article 32. According to law, only a person whose fundamental right is violated could invoke Article 32.

The court also noted that there was no pressing situation as the government had already put on hold the implementation of Rajoana's death sentence.

As it is known that Rajoana was not interested in seeking clemency for him and he had earlier forbade Akali Dal for seeking it.

In a letter, which Rajoana had written to Akali Dal, said that Akali Dal for pushing for his mercy due to having fear that it may loose supports of Sikhs in the state. Rajoana has slammed the Party for not fighting for Sikhs? right who were slain in 1984 anti-sikh riots.

The bench also said that petitioner Abhinav Ramakrishna, an advocate, has no locus standi to plead on Rajoana's behalf.

However, bench has allowed to NGO (Lawyers for Human Rights International) to withdraw its petition filed with a similar plea.

The rejection of plea has ended the hope of several sikh groups who were demanding mercy for Rajona, a convict for killing erstwhile Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh in 1995.

The kin of Beant Singh too have reportedly forgiven Rajoana.

Rajoana was one of the main conspires of Beant Singh murder case where he served as a back-up bomb in case Dilawar, the main suicide bomb failed.

The main suicide bomber was dead on the spot in his self-explosion. Beant Singh and other 17 were also killed in the bomb blast.

Jagatar Singh Hawara, the mastermind of this blast was also in the jail who was on earlier death sentence but later his death sentence was converted into life time imprisonment when he filled a mercy petition before the court.

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Who is Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana?

Sentenced to capital punishment in the case of murder of former Chief Minister Beant Singh was to be hanged on 31st of March 2012 at Patiala. With pressure from Sikhs worldwide this has been put on hold for now.

Bhai Sahib Balwant Singh, a constable, was a close friend of Shaheed Dilawar Singh, a serving police officer in the Punjab Police who on 31 August, 1995 assissinated the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh.

Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana had “openly confessed” an involvement and strongly expressed no faith in Indian judiciary. He refused to defend himself in the court and accepted the sentence. He accused Indian courts for applying dual standards of law and accused Indian system for shielding culprits of Sikh genocide 1984.

In his will, Bhai Balwant Singh expressed desire that his eyes should be transplanted to Hazoori Ragi of Darbar Sahib, visually impaired Bhai Lakhwinder Singh.

He was recently blessed with Amrit, where an Amrit Sanchar was especially organised for Bhai Sahib by the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib.